A light and sincere poem from a 1918 anthology called The Stag's Hornbook, Dobson uses an old French form called a rondeau. He was an English poet and essayist. From 1856 to 1901 he was employed in the Board of Trade. Aside from several popular works, he owes his literary reputation to his charming, vivacious, and often brilliant letters, which number about 2700. Richard Watson Gilder (1844-1909) was a poet too. He was also an editor of the Century Monthly Magazine. One of the foremost figures in New York literary society, he and his wife, artist Helena de Kay, also exerted considerable influence and were known for their Friday evening gatherings for artists, writers, and musicians at their Manhattan residence. His published writings include Complete Poems, Household Edition, Cleveland, A Record of Friendship, and Lincoln, the Leader.

Sources:

Blair, Bob:http://www.geocities.com/bblair.geo/000626.htm

Public domain text taken from The Poets’ Corner:
http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/2001/dobson0101.html